Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the Union from 2000 to 2010. The five most populous cities showed tremendous growth: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.<ref>[http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn51.html ''U.S. Census Bureau'', "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Nevada's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 24, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2012.]</ref>

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Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the Union from 2000 to 2010. The five most populous cities showed tremendous growth: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.<ref>[http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn51.html ''U.S. Census Bureau'', "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Nevada's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 24, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2012]</ref>

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Democrats controlled the Legislature, while the Governor at the time, [[Brian Sandoval]], was a Republican. Hispanics and (to a lesser extent) Asians emerged as possible communities of interest that would merit their own districts. The Legislature failed to finish new maps, and a court-appointed panel of three 'special masters' took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no legal challenges were made.<ref>[http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Districts/Reapp/2011/ ''Nevada Legislature'', "2011 Reapportionment and Redistricting Home," retrieved August 20, 2012.]</ref>

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Democrats controlled the Legislature, while the Governor at the time, [[Brian Sandoval]], was a Republican. Hispanics and (to a lesser extent) Asians emerged as possible communities of interest that would merit their own districts. The Legislature failed to finish new maps, and a court-appointed panel of three 'special masters' took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no legal challenges were made.<ref>[http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Districts/Reapp/2011/ ''Nevada Legislature'', "2011 Reapportionment and Redistricting Home," retrieved August 20, 2012]</ref>

As of March 2015, Nevada is one of 19 states that is under divided government and is therefore not one of the state government trifectas.

Legislature defined by law

The Nevada Constitution sets the maximum size of the Legislature at 75 members, and provides that the Senate may not be less than one-third nor more than one-half the size of the Assembly. As of 2010, the number of members for both houses is 63, twelve members below the maximum size as stated in the state constitution.

Sessions

When the Nevada Constitution was adopted, its fourth article established when the Legislature was to be in session. However, Section 29 of Article 4, the section that dealt with legislative sessions, was repealed by vote of the people in the 1958 general election. The session dates for the Nevada Legislature are no longer limited by the Nevada Constitution.

Senate

The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature. The Senate consists of 21 members from 19 districts, two of which are multimember. Each member represents an average of 128,598 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[7] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 94,679.[8] Senators serve four-year terms. Term limits, limiting senators to three 4-year terms (12 years), takes effect in 2010. Seven senators will be termed out in 2010 and six in 2012.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Nevada State Senate from 1992-2013.

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as the President of the Senate but only votes in the case of a tie. If the Lieutenant Governor is not present, the President Pro Tempore presides and has the power to make commission and committee appointments. The President Pro Tempore is elected to the position by the majority party. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the Majority and Minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber.

Assembly

The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature. As in neighboring California, the lower house of the legislature is referred to as an "Assembly" rather than the more common "House of Representatives." The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts. Each member represents an average of 64,299 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[9] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 47,339.[10]Term limits, limiting assemblymembers to six 2-year terms (12 years), takes effect in 2010. Ten members of the Assembly will be termed out in 2010.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Nevada State House of Representatives from 1992-2013.

Meetings

The Assembly, like the Senate, is composed of citizen legislators, receiving a relatively small salary for the first 60 days of a session only. This tends to self-selection, with legislative service difficult for those without flexible jobs and/or large outside incomes, such as doctors and lawyers. The Assembly, again like the Senate, meets up to a maximum of 120 days, beginning the first Monday in February of every odd-numbered year. While this is designed to limit the amount of time a legislator is away from their first job, in recent years 120 days has not been enough to complete legislative business, requiring special sessions to be called to finish up legislative business.

Leadership

The Speaker of the Assembly presides over the Assembly in the chief leadership position, controlling the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full Assembly on passage of a floor vote. Other Assembly leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each party's strength in the chamber.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Nevada State Senate:
From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Nevada State Senate for the last six years while the Republicans were the majority for the first 16 years.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Nevada State House of Representatives:
From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Nevada State House of Representatives for the last 20 years while the Republicans were never the majority. The Nevada State House of Representatives is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Nevada state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the study, Nevada had one Democratic trifecta during 1992. The state's SQLI rankings were high for the majority of the study, finishing in the top-10 from 1996-1997 and from 2005-2006. However, Nevada's SQLI ranking declined from then on, finishing 46th in 2012. Both its highest and lowest rankings occurred when the government was divided between Democratic and Republican control.

Chart displaying the partisanship of the Nevada government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Redistricting

The Legislature handles the redistricting process through a Legislative Operations and Elections Committee in each chamber. The Governor wields veto power, and the Legislature cannot overturn.

2010 census

Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the Union from 2000 to 2010. The five most populous cities showed tremendous growth: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.[11]

Democrats controlled the Legislature, while the Governor at the time, Brian Sandoval, was a Republican. Hispanics and (to a lesser extent) Asians emerged as possible communities of interest that would merit their own districts. The Legislature failed to finish new maps, and a court-appointed panel of three 'special masters' took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no legal challenges were made.[12]

Legislators

Salaries

As of 2013, members of the legislature are paid $146.29/day for a maximum of 60 days. Legislators inside the 50-mile Capitol area receive the federal rate for per diem while those outside the area receive the HUD single-room rate for each month of session for housing.[13]

The Nevada Constitution specifies that the 63 members of the state Legislature are to be paid for the first 60 days of each regular session, held every other year in odd-numbered years. The pay for the 21 Senators and 42 members of the Assembly is tied to pay increases provided to state employees.

An amendment can be proposed in either chamber of the state legislature.

A majority of the members of both chambers must approve the proposed amendment.

After the next general election for members of the state legislature, the proposed amendment must be considered again, and again approved by a majority of the members of both chambers.

The state legislature can call a special election for the proposed amendment(s) if they wish.

The amendment is then put to a vote of the people. If "a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the Legislature voting thereon" vote in favor of it, the measure becomes part of the constitution unless it is precluded by Section 2 of Article 19.

If two amendments are proposed at the same election that contradict each other, the one that gets the most votes becomes part of the constitution.

Additionally, according to Section 2 of Article 16 if two-thirds of the Nevada State Legislature votes in favor, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention goes on a statewide ballot. That election must be held at the same time as an election is being held for members of the state legislature (that is, a constitutional convention question can't go on a special election ballot). A majority vote -- but not a simple majority vote -- of the statewide electorate is required to generate a convention: "In determining what is a majority of the electors voting at such election, reference shall be had to the highest number of votes cast at such election for the candidates for any office or on any question."